Apparatus for moire-finishing cloth



I 1,635,091 July 1927' t J. J. LYTH APPARATUS FOR MOIRE FINISHING CLOTH Filed-Dec. 7. 1923 F/a4 --f we //7 renfof, F7 a John J. Ly/b I p may Patented July 5, 1927.

JOHN J. LYTH, OF VALLEYFIELD, QUEBEC, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR MCI-RE FINISHING CLOTH.

Application filed December 7, 1923. Serial No. 679,222.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for lmparting moire finish to cloth and for other purposes, and the primary object of the invention 15 to enable the desired finishing operation to be conducted at a high I rate of speed. v

A further object is toprovide for a practically infinite variation and control of the pattern produced.

A still further object is to provide a moir finishing apparatus designed as an attach.- ment to existing calendering machines, there'- by to reduce the cost of installation as much as possible.

Various other objects and advantages may be ascertained from the following description.

Briefly speaking, the apparatus comprises a pair of cloth shifting members over which the two layers of cloth to be finished pass into the nip of calender rolls and by axial movement of the members, the two layers of cloth are relatively oscillated in their respective planes, so that the threads thereof cross and recross one another as they enter the nip of the calender rolls to the end that, by the pressure of the rolls,the threads of each layer are caused to make an impression on the other layer, imparting the desired moir finish or' watered effect. shifting members may be-loose rolls receiving'rotary motion from the movement of the cloth and at any event are moved back and forth in their axial directionby any suitable driving means which'may be regulated at the will of the operator to bear any desired relation to the lineal speed of the cloth. In the embodiment of the inventioh herein illustrated and described, the driving means employed is a fluid pressure motor,

' but it will. be understood that other means which will permit of the desired speed regulation may be employed.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig? ure 1, also partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the motor.

Fig. 4 is a section of the motor controlling valve on the line 41 -4, Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a pair of cloth shifting members of any suitable construction arranged in spaced relation, usually in par- These cloth allelism. In the preferred construction illustrated each shifting member comprises a central spindle 12, a tubular roll 13 together wlth intermediate and end supports 14 and 15 respectively for the roll, the latter holding the roll between them through the guide 17 is provided at one end of the device I in which the spindles are reciprocatably and rotatably mounted, At the opposite end of the device a cylinder block 18 is provided containing pistons 19 in which the ends of the spindles are rotatably and non-reciprocatably mounted. Operative-connection between thespindles and pistons may be effected in any suitable way, for example by means of split pins 19 in thepistons engaging circumferential grooves 12 in the spindles. I

The base 17 carries one or more rockers20 pivotally related thereto, the arms of which are connected by links 21 with the ends of the spindles to the end that if either spindle is moved axially in one direction the other spindle will be moved axially inthe opposite direction. 7

Preferably the links 21 are arranged in pairs with recessed or apertured yokes' 21 between them in which the ends of the spindles are .rotatably mounted. A con- .venient manner of mounting embod1escon1- cal recesses in the yokes in which recesses the pointed ends of the spindles bear. This arrangement renders the entire end areas of the spindles available as thrust surfaces. If desired the connection may be similar to that used at the opposite ends of the spindles.

Means maybe provided for adjusting the spindles in their axial direction so as to regulate the relation of the pistons the cylinder block. In the embodiment herein illustrated this adjusting means comprises a slide 22 mounted in a guide slot 22 in the base 17 and'movable in said slot in the axialdirection of the rolls. The position of the block is determined by any suitable means, such as a rod 23. threaded into 19 with an already existing calender, the adjusting device may be found very convenient to adjust the device according to the width between frames of the calender and at the same time to obtain suiiicient entry of the pistons into the cylinders on the exhaust stroke without blocking the ports.

The cylinder block is provided with a pair of bores 24 to receive the pistons 19, and

- also with a valve chamber 25 provided with an exhaust outlet 26 at one end and provided at the opposite end with a valve stem guide 27. Each of the bores 24 is closed at the end remote from the rolls and at the closed end a port 28 is provided communicating with a corresponding port 29 in the valve chamber. The ports 29 are spaced in the axial direction of the chamber and a motive fluid inlet 30 is provided intermediate these ports. A valve 31 is provided in the chamber having a passage 32 adapted to establish communication between either port 29 and the inlet 30. The valve may be of any suitable type but is preferably of the piston type illustrated and is operated by a stem 33 adjustably connected to a bracket 3% clamped to one of the rolls. The valve is obviously designed to simultaneously uncover one port to the inlet and one to the exhaust and upon reciprocation to reverse the connections thus established so as to admit motive fluid to the cylinders alternately and permit exhausting of spent motive fluid from the cylinders. When a valve stem guide 27 or other means closing one end of the valve chamber is used a passage 35 must be provided through the valve to establish communication between the exhaust outlet 26 and the port 29 most remote therefrom. If, however, both ends of the chamber are open this passage will be unnecessary.

A very convenient method of forming passages between the ports 28 and 29 is illustrated and embodies the provision of the valve chamber in a member separate from the cylinder block. The ports 28 may then extend in straight lines from the cylinder bores to the outer surface of the block and the ports 29 in straight lines from the valve chamber to the out-er surface. Grooves 36 may then be formed in either member to form, when the parts are assembled, the necessary connecting passages. This method of manufacture is particularly desirable in apparatus of this character where the ports and passages are of necessity small and very dillicult to form by usual foundry methods and impossible to satisfactorily clean out.

The operation of the device is as follows z-Motive fluid, for example compressed air, is supplied to the valve and is thereby admitted to the cylinders alternately. The fluid when admitted to a cylinder drives out the piston therein and caus s axial movement of the connected roll or cloth directing element. This movement is communicated through the rocking lever 20 to the other cloth directing element, which is thereby moved oppositely to the first. The piston of the second element enters the cylinder and expels expanded motive fluid from the cylinder through the valve to the outlet 26. The relatively opposite reciprocation of the rolls causes the two layers of cloth 38 between the rolls and the nip of the calender rolls 37 to be oscillated relatively in opposite directions. The amount of oscillation or angular movement of each layer of cloth from thenormal line of movement is quite small and in any case not sulficient to cause wrinkling. By moving each of the two layers of cloth relatively in opposite directions a very slight angular movement of each layer produces the necessary relative angular displacementfor satisfactory patterning. The construction employed enables the rolls to be reciprocated at high speed'and as a result enables the cloth to be passed over the rolls and through the calender at much higher lineal speed than is possible with existing moir finishing apparatus. As a result the finishing operation may be performed at much lower cost than heretofore. In addition to the foregoing the speed of reciprocation of the rolls may be regulated independently of the speed of the cloth. by controlling the amount of motive fluid so as to vary the pat tern as desired. v

lVhile a preferred embodiment of the ap paratus has been described and illustrated, it will be understood that numerous alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, for example, a

"different type of motor may be used or double acting motor-s which will enable eliniination of the rocking connection between the rolls. Another type of roll construction may also be adopted but that illustrated is preferred on account of its light weight and consequent reduction of the factor of inertia which must be considered in any rapidly reciprocating device. It will thereforebe seen that one of the essentials of this invention is the provision of means to oscillate or move two layers of cloth relatively in opposite directions. I

While the apparatus has been described in connection with moire finishing. it will be understood that it may be used for other purposes. For example, the apparatus may be employed for breaking cloth by passing the cloth back and forth over the rolls, a number of the devices being preferably employed.

Having thus described what I claim is V 1. A cloth treatingapparatus comprising in combination with the calendering machine a pair of cloth directing elements over each of which a layer of cloth may pass into the nip of the calender rolls, connection between said elements to cause relatively opposite reciprocation thereof in their axial direction thereby to relatively oscillate. the two layers of cloth passing between said elements and the calender, and fluid pressure motors connected to the elements to move both in the same direction, the said motors including valve mechanism to secure alternate operation of the motors.

2. A cloth treating apparatus comprising a pair of cloth directing elements reciprocatable in their axial directions, a motor at one end of each element in axial alignment therewith to move the elements in one direction said motors including valvem-echanism to secure alternate operation of the motors, and connection between the elements at the opposite end to secure relatively opposite movement thereof and expulsion of spent motive fluid from the inoperative motor.

3. A cloth treating apparatus comprising a pair of cloth directing elements reciprocatable in their axial directions, a piston at one end of each element, a cylinder block receiving the pistons and supporting the ele ments at one end, valve mechanism to control flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinders operatively connected to one of the elements, a guide supporting the elements at the opposite ends, a rocking lever pivotally related to the guide and link connection be tween the ends of the lever and the adjacent ends of the elements.

4:. A cloth treating apparatus comprising a pair of cloth directing elements reciprocatable in their axial directions, a piston at one end of each element, a cylinder block receiving the pistons and supporting the elements at one end, valve mechanism to control flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinders operatively connected to one of the elements, a guide supportin the elements at the opposite ends, a rocking lever pivotally related to the guide and link connection between the ends of the lever and the adjacent ends my invention,

of the elements, and a support for the rocking lever adjustably mounted in the guide to determine the relation of the pistons to the cylinder block.

5. A cloth treating apparatus comprising a pair of cloth directing rolls reciprocatable in their axial directions, a piston rotatably related to and in axial'alignment with each roll at one end thereof, a pair of cylinders receiving the pistons,a valve common to the two cylinders to control flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinders, operative connection between the valve and one of said rolls, a guide slidably and rotatably supporting the remaining ends of said rolls, a thrust bearing for each roll, a rocking lever carried by the guide, and links connecting said hearings to the ends of the lever.

6. A cloth treating apparatus comprising a pair of cloth directing rolls reciprocatable in their axial directions, a piston rotatably related to and in axial alignment with eac roll at one end thereof, a pair of cylinders receiving the pistons, a valve common to the two cylinders to control flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinders, operative connection between .the valve and one of said rolls, a guide slidably and rotatably supporting the remaining ends of said rolls, a thrust bearing for each roll having a conical recess, the end of the roll being conically shaped in conformity with thebearing recess, a block slidahle in the guide in the axial direction of the rolls, means to adjust the position of said block, a pair of levers fulcrumed on said block, and links connecting each thrust hearing to the corresponding ends of the two levers.

7, A self-contained attachment for calendering machines applicable and removable as a unit and designed when co-operating with the calender to cause moire finishing of cloth passing through the calender, including a pair of cloth directing elements over which cloth may pass into the nip of the calender rolls, the said elements being relatively oppositely reciprocatable in their axial direction, and variable speed mechanical driv ing means independent of the calendering machine for reciprocating said elements, and framework supporting the elements and driving means. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN J. LYTH. 

